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Non-Jewish politician launches campaign with shofar blast, Spielberg wins at Golden Globes, wife and mom to two Israeli presidents died, and a Yiddish rendition of Dolly Parton's 'Jolene.'
THE WEEK IN POLITICS President Biden nominated Deborah Lipstadt in August to be the special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism. Each Monday, Jacob Kornbluh, our senior political reporter, shares what’s in his notebook about New York, Washington, Jerusalem and beyond.
‘Antisemitism is not a game’: Why the Senate holdup on envoy nomination matters: Senate Democrats are seeking ways to confirm President Joe Biden’s nomination of Deborah E. Lipstadt as the State Department’s special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism. We spoke with prior occupants of the role to better understand what’s going undone amid the delays.
Why it matters: The position was first established in 2004, and elevated to the rank of ambassador in 2021 a week before President Donald Trump left office. That’s why it now requires Senate confirmation – which has been blocked for nearly six months by Sen. Ron Johnson, a Wisconsin Republican, over a Lipstadt tweet critical of a comment he made about the Jan. 6 Capitol riots.
“By changing it last year, it has become a political football,” said Hannah Rosenthal, who was the envoy during President Obama’s first term.
On the record: Aaron Keyak, who was appointed as Lipstadt’s deputy in November, tells us: “Every day that passes without that leadership in our office, our compelling – even lifesaving – work is hampered.”
What it’s not: The office is supposed to monitor global antisemitism and, contrary to popular opinion, does not take a lead role in the matter on a domestic level. Which is another reason, some argue, that it should not be part of a partisan debate.
Broader context: Lipstadt, a Holocaust historian at Emory University, is among the most prominent of hundreds of Biden nominees similarly caught up in the Senate’s partisan battles. She was the focus of a New York Times article published over the weekend that described the confirmation process as “a contentious mess” and “the worst it has ever been.” To date, 41% of Biden’s nominees have been confirmed, a new study found, and those have taken an average of 103 days each.
Not backing down: It started as a “he said, they said” situation foreshadowing the challenges moderate Democrats may face from the left in this year’s primaries. U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey accused activists from the Working Families Party of shouting “Jew” at him during a protest in September. The protesters insisted they had not, and offered video clips to prove it. Now, the Democratic Speaker of the New Jersey Assembly has asked the local prosecutor to investigate the incident as a possible hate crime.
In solidarity: Today, the Rockland Jewish Federation and Anti-Defamation League are hosting a virtual event to commemorate the second anniversary of the stabbing attack at a Monsey rabbi’s Hanukkah party.
ALSO FROM THE FORWARD Remembering Bob Saget, Millennials' embarrassing, bawdy, beloved Jewish dad: Saget, who died Sunday at 65, was best-known for his G-rated role on “Full House.” But it was his second career, performing blue and playing against type, that may be his lasting legacy. “Children of the ‘90s discovered Bob Saget in phases,” writes our culture reporter, PJ Grisar, in an appreciation. “He was one of the rare comedy acts that aged with you, while never quite maturing.” Read the story ➤
Tackling climate change the way she once sold Girl Scout cookies: with new ideas.Growing up, Lisa Colton purchased a box of each flavor cookie with her own money, cut the individual cookies into small pieces and offered them as samples. She sold more than 1,000 boxes. Now 47, Colton, who lives in Seattle, has applied her marketing smarts to causes she cares about. She spearheaded last year’s The Great Big Jewish Food Fest and today opens The Big Bold Jewish Climate Fest. Read the story ➤
And one more: Sidney Poitier – the Oscar-winning actor, director and civil rights icon who died this weekend at 94 – often credited an old Jewish waiterfor his success. WHAT ELSE YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY Steven Spielberg said making 'West Side Story' was 'was a dream come true, literally.' 🏆 At the Golden Globes Sunday night, Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story” took home the Best Picture award for musical or comedy. Other Jewish winners included Andrew Garfield for his acting in “Tick, Tick … Boom!” and Hans Zimmer for his score of “Dune.” (Hollywood Reporter)
🖼️ The looted artifacts of Michael Steinhardt, the mega-donor to Jewish causes, are still on display at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem despite his agreement last month to surrender 180 stolen antiquities worth $70 million to their rightful homelands. Steinhardt also promised to never again collect ancient artifacts in a deal to avoid prosecution. (AP)
🪦 For centuries, it was a graveyard for Mantua, one of Italy’s largest Jewish communities. Then the Nazis took it over. Then it was neglected for decades. Now the government is spending 6.5 million euros to turn it into a museum titled House of Remembrance. (JTA)
🎙️ Joshua Malina, the “West Wing” actor who has been outspoken on Jewish issues, has started a podcast called “Chutzpod” with Rabbi Shira Stutman. The two will discuss the week’s Torah portion and current events. “We want it to be interesting to people who did not enjoy Hebrew school, but are looking for a way maybe to find a little relevance in their Judaism,” he said. (Jewish Insider)
Shiva call ➤Lani Guinier, whose nomination by President Bill Clinton to head the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice was opposed by mainstream Jewish organizations, died at 71. Guinier, the daughter of a white Jewish mother and Black Panamanian father, went on to become the first Black woman on the Harvard Law School faculty and write several books about social justice and equal political participation. Read our obituary ➤
Another shiva call ➤Aura Herzog, wife and mother to two Israeli presidents, died at 97. Tributes lauded her as a pioneer who devoted herself to public service; she took part in Israel’s War of Independence and was a social and environmental activist.
ON THE CALENDAR Left to right: Jerry Wexler, Aretha Franklin and Bob Dylan. On this day in history: Jerry Wexler, a writer for Billboard Magazine who coined the term “rhythm and blues,” was born on Jan. 10, 1917. He eventually shifted from journalism to producing and was integral in shepherding the careers of Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, the Allman Brothers, Linda Ronstadt, Led Zeppelin, Willie Nelson, and Bob Dylan. Asked by a documentary filmmaker several years before his death in 2008 what he wanted on his tombstone, Wexler replied “Two words: ‘More bass.’”
Last year on this day, we reported that the Anti-Defamation League was calling for the ouster of President Trump in the wake of the attacks on the Capitol.
VIDEO OF THE DAY What does Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” sound like in Yiddish? In case you missed it: In Sunday’s edition of our Yiddish newsletter (subscribe here!), we shared this newly released video from Ronit Asheri, an Israeli actress and singer. “Asheri’s take on it is fun to watch even if you don’t know Yiddish,” says Rukhl Schaechter, the Forward’s Yiddish editor, “particularly because of her humorous shtetl-life references, including threatening her rival with a rolling pin.” Baking utensils aside, this rendition has special resonance and is now on repeat in my house, since we named our new puppy Jolene. Watch the video ➤
––– Thanks to Jacob Kornbluh for contributing to today’s newsletter. You can reach the “Forwarding” team at editorial@forward.com.
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